LeBron James matters to Northeast Ohio, but essential to life? Hardly: Terry Pluto

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerWhile Cavaliers fans Kevin Metz (left) and Jeff Pejsa made their affection for LeBron James clear during last Saturday's appreciation day in Akron, Terry Pluto suggests that "hope" is one thing, but James' free-agent decision is hardly a matter of life and death for Northeast Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It seems some in the national media assume Cleveland will dry up and blow away with the next big gusts of wind if LeBron James doesn't re-sign with the Cavaliers.

Wait a minute, didn't Forbes magazine already rate Cleveland as the "most miserable city" back in February? That was when James was in the middle of his second consecutive MVP season and the Cavs were on their way to an NBA-best 61 regular-season victories. We were already supposed to be chronically depressed, so how much worse can it get?

Here's hoping James remains with the Cavs. His presence does light up the dismal winter sports landscape. As long as James is in Cleveland, fans can at least dare to dream about him bringing a title here.

But if he leaves, does much really change in most of our lives?

Consider what really counts: Family, health, relationship, jobs. Some of those things also may lead James to stay with the Cavs. He is an Akronite, a Northeast Ohio guy who insists he'll always call this area home no matter where he plays.

It will hurt those who draw income from the Cavs or the other spinoffs from the games at Quicken Loans Arena. It will sentence the Cavs to a team trying to make the playoffs, rather than a contender.

James and his Cavaliers are a superb diversion to real life. But just that, a diversion.

In a blog for Psychology Today, Dr. Allen McConnell insisted, "The possibility that James will leave the Cavs is such an especially strong 'threat to the self' for fans ... because James is much more included in the self than most sports figures. Although it doesn't rise to the level of experiencing a divorce (at least, for most people!), his potential departure does feel like losing a friend or family member for many whose closets include many No. 23 Cavs jerseys."

I suggest the dear doctor look in the rearview mirror of Cleveland sport history. Check out 1995, when it was announced the Browns were moving to Baltimore a week before the Indians were heading to their first World Series in 41 years.

Guess what?

Cleveland and the fans survived. Despite James' enormous popularity, it doesn't match the love this area has for the Browns. And yes, the city actually functioned in the three years the Browns were gone. Nor has Cleveland gone out of business since the Browns returned in the form of a dreadful expansion franchise with the NFL's second-worst record (Thanks, Detroit!) since 1999.

Life-changing is a child coming home from school to find a parent sitting at home staring off into space -- having just been laid off. I saw that with my father. Many of you have endured the same in your families.

Life-changing is getting the wrong news on tests from the doctor, or a call in the middle of the night that your mother has died, something I'll never forget.

Life-changing is a real divorce with duels over child support and visitation rights, not an anxiety separation because James or another sports star grabs the money and runs.

I happen to think that James will eventually sign with the Cavs, perhaps a 3-year deal. If he does, it will make my day. He does make this town more fun, and he has generally handled himself very well given his incredible celebrity and coming into $100 million at the age of 18.

But if he leaves, it really shouldn't be something that ruins anyone's life. The rest of the country may think we're miserable, but we're smarter and tougher than that.

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